Creativity isn't something I possess. It possesses me.

As a child growing up outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, I had several legit attempts at novels. I taught myself to sing by wearing out my mother's cassette tapes. (Remember those?) The toy companies wanted money to consider my board games - which was their loss. As a fourth grader, I took first place in my school's Cultural Arts Program, beating out the fifth and sixth graders in the visual arts category. By high school, I had moved on from drawing Disney characters to comic book heroines.

After high school, I enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh to major in Creative Writing. Yet life intervened and I dropped out after only one semester. It wasn't until several years later, in 2004, that I returned to college. Married and living in West Virginia at the time, I enrolled at Fairmont State University to pursue a degree in Business Administration. (I had been working in retail management, so it seemed logical.) However, I quickly realized that such an avenue wasn’t for me!

Committed to obtaining a four-year degree, and relegated to the area due to my (now) ex-husband's job, I literally flipped through the college catalog to see what other majors interested me. I came across Graphics Technology and, as I had been dabbling in web design and it appealed to my long-lost creative side, I changed my major and never looked back.

Prior to graduation, I acquired my first freelance client, author and speaker Cindi McMenamin. (Note: I continued to serve as her web and graphic designer for over a decade.) After graduation, I continued to foster my freelance business while also volunteering my talents at my church.

In 2013, after relocating solo back to Pittsburgh, I became the Webmaster for the Allegheny County Department of Human Services. Fourteen months later, I moved on to the county's Division of Computer Services, where I currently serve as the Web Manager & Creative Director.

In 2015, I relaunched my freelance business to target the DIY design needs of entrepreneurs and small business owners. The number of small businesses is increasing by leaps and bounds and there is a very real - almost desperate - need for the type of resources, services, and help my business provides. However, my motivation isn't simply to fill a need. I'm a natural encourager! I have a passion for helping people launch successful websites, branding strategies, and marketing plans - areas that I, myself, am passionate about and enjoy infusing with creativity and business sense.

When I’m not working, I take advantage of Pittsburgh's many cultural and recreational offerings (as I live downtown). This includes the city's various art museums, the ballet, and even a ballgame now and then. I also enjoy riding bikes on the beautiful river trails.